Water producing method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A water producing system adapted to condense water from the air and collected in a storage tank were the water is purified and bacteria is killed. One form of killing the bacteria is utilizing a circulation line with a filter system to remove the ozone before the water is dispensed. A circulation line is to prevent dead legs in the system which can lead to bacteria production.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 60/607,369,filed Sep. 3, 2004 and 11/221,075 filed Sep. 6, 2005.

BACKGROUND

Potable water is essential to support and contribute to the well-beingof societies. The mortality rate, particularly among young children, canbe drastically reduced by providing clean, potable water, particularlyin the case of preventable water-related diseases. It has been estimatedthat as many as 135 million people will die by the year 2020 where acausal factor for these deaths is unsafe drinking water as cited by thePacific Institute for Studies in Development Environment and Security.Water scarcity is problematic in various regions of the world. Further,in developing societies it is desirable to have clean potable water toprovide for employees in a workplace environment as well as familymembers in one's home. According to the World Health Organization in areport published in 2000, 1.1 billion people around the world lackedaccess to “an improved water supply”. This report further assessed thatthere are 4 billion cases of diarrhea each year where the causal factorfor such illness is a lack of access to clean water.

Further, in the present day of conflict and environmental terrorism, theworld's water supplies which are traditionally vast, covering a largereal estate, and very difficult to protect, can be used by environmentaland biological terrorists in potential attacks. Such water supplies aregenerally part of a larger network whereby contaminating a portion ofthe supply can systematically contaminate and spoil a large volume ofwould-be potable water. Of course the potential health hazards as wellas economic costs for such malicious attacks are immeasurable. As ofJan. 14, 2004, the United States has approximately 54,065 public andprivate water systems. The systems are all potentially vulnerable toattack by potential terrorists; however, little funding is directedtowards protecting such a vast number of water systems. Further, thepractical logistics involved in protecting such large and vast watersystems is very cost-prohibitive, yet the desire to, and urgency of,maintaining a clean potable water supply is present.

Government regulations regarding it are often less stringent on bottledwater than those for public water systems. The former is controlled bythe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the latter by theEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA). Interestingly, one third of allbottled water sold in the United States is actually taken from a publicwater system. Bottled water also has the disadvantage of having to storeand carry heavy bottles.

In many countries, such as the various countries in the Middle East,clean water is desirable at various locations where electricity isprovided; however, there are no natural reservoirs of water provided tosupport the needs of individuals residing in such areas. However, it iswell known that the ambient air contains a certain amount of evaporatedwater therein. The study of water in ambient air is referred to thestudy of psychrometrics which relates, in general, to the amount ofwater in the air as expressed in absolute and relative humidity withrespect to the temperature and pressure of the ambient air. In general,as the temperature of the ambient air drops, the relative humidityincreases even though the absolute humidity remains constant. In otherwords, the ambient air loses its ability to hold water therein and whenthe temperature drops below a determined dewpoint, the water condensesinto liquid form and essentially “falls out” of the air. Therefore, itis desirable to have a cooling element that sufficiently cools theambient air to draw moisture therefrom. However, the cooling elementshould not dropped to a freezing point which militates the effort toextract water from the air.

Another known problem which has plagued such machines that employpsychrometric principles is the growth and harboring of bacteria withinsuch devices. Although the basic concept of using a cooling element,which in one form is a part of the heat pump cycle, to extract waterfrom the air has been known in the prior art, a recurring problem withsuch systems is the promotion of bacterial growth in the water loopswhich results in unclean water which is not consumable by individuals.Therefore, it is desirable to produce a system that is well suited tokill, and not promote, bacterial growth. Further, it is generallydesirable to have water at a temperature other than room temperature forconsumption purposes. In general, many consumers desire cooler water fordrinking. Alternatively, for certain beverages such as tea or instantcoffee, individuals desire warmer water below a boiling point, which ingeneral is mixed with other material such as tea contained within a teabag or instant coffee granules to provide a hot beverage. Suchtemperature conditions are fortuitously non-conducive for producingbacteria.

Of course the extraction of water from ambient air requires anon-closed-looped air circulation system that draws in ambient air froman air inlet port. The air inlet port preferably passes through a filterwhich is well-suited for removal of dust particles and the like.Thereafter, the air passes through a cooling element which in one formis an evaporator of a heat pump cycle.

As described in detail and the detailed description below, various otherforms of cooling a water condensation member are discussed such asthermoacoustic, continuous absorption and other methods. Variousembodiments are disclosed in the detailed specification which in generalrelate to methods of condensing the water and secondly purification ofthe same.

With regard to a heat pump cooling system, it should be noted thatalthough water condenses on the cooling element, in one form the coolingelement is referred to as an “evaporator” because the refrigerant fluidcontained therein passes through an expander to reach the evaporator andthis lower pressure refrigerant fluid internally evaporates and drawsheat from the outer surface of the evaporator. It is well known inchemical principles that evaporation of a fluid requires heat. Of coursevarious refrigerant fluids have different boiling points andcondensation points. It is also well known that R-134A is a refrigerantmedium that operates particularly well within the temperature rangesthat are desired in a system such as a water producing and deliverydevice. Other refrigerants such as and not limited to are R-12, R134a,R-22, and R-410 that should function as well as an operating fluid forthe various refrigeration cycles described herein. Therefore, as theinternal refrigerant fluid evaporates and draws heat from the ambientair passing around the outer surface of the evaporator, the temperatureof the evaporator/cooling element drops and hence the ambient air lowersin temperature as well. As the temperature of the ambient air drops toabout just above the freezing point, the water will condense and fall toa collection drip tray.

One of the embodiments shown herein shows a dual loop system where thewater condensation member has a separate circuit than a refrigerationcycle. This provides a tremendous amount of flexibility for creatingwater and be in a more desirable section of a psychrometric chart todrop more water from the air in a given atmosphere condition theninstead of using only an evaporator coil from a refrigeration cyclesystem. Basically, a heat exchanger from a water producing circuit witha medium such as glycol (propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, etc.)provides flexibility and flow rates and design of a water condensationmember.

As described in detail herein, the collection trip tray in one form isin communication with a potable water fluid circuit that is thoroughlydescribed below. A reservoir tank and filter system as well as hot watertanks all provide functions within the water producing and deliverydevice to deliver potable water that is clean and bacteria-free andready for immediate consumption by individuals.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Below is described a water producing device adapted to remove moisturefrom the air. The water producing device comprises a water condensationmember positioned above a collection tray. The water collection trayhaving a conduit for communication with a main tank adapted to havewater positioned therein. There is an ozone generator producing ozonegas that is in communication with the main tank. There is also a firstfilter in communication with the main tank that is adapted to have ozonepass therethrough and is in communication with the ambient air. A fluiddispensing portion is provided adapted to provide fluid through an exitnozzle and a dispensing nozzle. A second filter positioned between themain tank and the dispensing nozzle for removal of ozone gas.

In one form the first filter further is in communication with thecollection tray to allow water to pass through to the main tank and thefirst filter further is in communication with the collection tray toallow water to pass through to the main tank.

The main tank in one form is in communication with a hot holding tankand a cold holding tank whereby the hot holding tank is adapted to haveheated water contained therein to a hot dispensing nozzle and the coldholding tank is adapted to hold cold water therein and disburse water toa cold dispensing nozzle. The second filter can be positioned in thefluid circuit between the hot holding tank and the hot dispensing nozzleand another second filter is positioned between the cold holding tankand the cold dispensing nozzle.

The rapid cold producing device is a plate heat exchanger for removingheat which is a plate heat exchanger for removing heat from the water ofthe cold holding tank.

In another form a water producing device is described adapted tocondense water from air as water condensate. The water producing devicecomprises a water collection portion that has a water condensationmember positioned above a water collection tray where water condensateis adapted to drip downwardly from the water condensation member to anupper surface of the water collection tray. A conduit in communicationto a lower opening of the collection tray and adapted to take watertherefrom. There is further a purification portion is present comprisingan iodine injector adapted to inject iodine to the water within the maintank.

A water delivery portion comprising an iodine removing filter positioneddownstream from the main tank adapted to remove iodine from the water.Finally a dispensing nozzle is present downstream of the iodine removingfilter.

In this embodiment there can be a main tank line in communication withthe main tank and passes through a first heat exchanger that cools thewater in the main tank line before passing to the water condensationmember. The main tank line is in communication with a cold dispensingline in communication with a cold dispensing nozzle downstream of theheat exchanger where a pressure sensor detecting low pressure in thecold dispensing line activates a pump of a rapid cooling circuit.

Another embodiment shows a water producing circuit comprising a watercondensation member in fluid communication with a fluid line adapted tohave an operating fluid with a freezing level below that of water passtherethrough. A pump is provided that is in fluid communication with thewater communication circuit adapted to bias the operating fluidtherethrough. An operating fluid sump is adapted to hold the operatingfluid therein or alternatively the line is closed and sealed. A heatpump cycle is present having a condenser coil member in thermalcommunication with the operating fluid sump that is adapted to pull heatfrom the operating fluid. An expander upstream of the evaporator coiland downstream from a condenser coil is present. There is further acompressor interposed in the fluid circuit between the evaporator coilup and the condenser coil which is common in heat pump/refrigerationcycles. The heat pump cycle and the water producing circuit are fluidlydiscrete circuits.

In another form system for producing water from air having evaporatedwater therein by forming condensation droplets. The system comprises awater condensation member adapted to be positioned in an air streamhaving the evaporated water and further have the condensation dropletsformed thereon. There is also a collection tray adapted to collectcondensation droplets from the water condensation member. A firstcollection tank is provided that is in communication with the collectiontray. A fluid line is in communication with the first collection tankthat is adapted to bias the water through the filter assembly. Arefrigeration circuit is provided having an evaporator coil in thermalcommunication with a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger having an inletport and an outlet port adapted to allow water to pass therethroughdownstream from the filter assembly. In this system there is a valvesystem adapted to direct refrigerant to either the heat exchanger or tothe water condensation member. The heat exchanger outlet port is incommunication with a dispenser nozzle for distributing cold water.

The numerous embodiments showed various methods of cooling in convincingwater and purification of the same. Much more the details all of theembodiments can be better appreciated after reviewing the detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 discloses an isometric view of the water producing device 20where in particular the casing and water dispensing area are shown;

FIG. 1A discloses an isometric view of a first embodiment with alongitudinal airflow arrangement;

FIG. 1B discloses another embodiment where ozone injection lines arepositioned downstream of the hot and cold water tanks and upstream ofozone removing filters for flushing the tanks at intermittent times;

FIG. 2 discloses a variation of the first embodiment with a verticalairflow arrangement;

FIG. 2A discloses the main tank in detail showing various sensors and anozone diffuser;

FIG. 2B discloses another type of diffuser for a larger tank;

FIG. 2C discloses another ozone distribution system utilizing a pump andventuri-type ozone extractor;

FIG. 2D discloses a system similar to FIG. 2C except the ozone linecirculates back to the main tank;

FIG. 2E discloses another bacteria killing device where electrodes arepositioned within the main tank;

FIG. 2F discloses an arrangement of water producing devices stacked uponone another;

FIG. 2G shows a schematic embodiment of a float system positioned abovethe main tank;

FIG. 3 discloses an optional arrangement of cooling the watercondensation coils where a rapid heat exchanger such as a plate heatexchanger is utilized to cool water that is extracted from the main tankand circulated back thereto after passing through the water condensationcoils;

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment where instead of using a rapid heatexchanger, the evaporator coil (the cold coil) of a heatpump/regfrigeration system is positioned within the main tank where thewater is positioned and circulated to the water condensation member;

FIG. 5 discloses another variation of FIG. 3 were the rapid heatexchanger has a water dispenser on that can distribute cold water fromthe main tank and divert the cold water from the water condensationcircuit/rapid cooling circuit;

FIG. 5A shows another method of cooling the main tank and utilizingwater therefrom for the water condensation member;

FIG. 6A discloses a preferred form of trading ozone with anyelectrolyzer tube basically having an insulated passageway to allow airto pass therethrough;

FIG. 6B shows a schematic view of an ozone generator;

FIG. 7 discloses a schematic view showing a continuous absorptionsystem;

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment where solar panels are utilized to extractenergy from the sun for purposes of powering various electricalcomponents;

FIG. 9 discloses a thermoacoustic device having a water condensationmember in thermal communication with the cold portions of thethermoacoustic device;

FIG. 10 discloses a geothermal type system where an operating fluid iscooled by way of a cooling grid for purposes of reducing the temperatureof the water condensation member;

FIG. 11 discloses a geothermal type system and a heat pump-likeembodiment where a compressor and expander are utilized to furtherdecrease the temperature of the operating fluid;

FIG. 12 discloses another water circuit schematic with more of a closedloop variation utilizing a rapid heat exchanger;

FIG. 13 discloses another variation of a partially closed loop watersystem utilizing an ozone purification system with a rapid heatexchanger;

FIG. 14 discloses a dual fluid circuit loop having a heat pump cycle orother type of cooling cycle in thermal communication with a waterproduction circuit with an operating fluid flowing therethrough;

FIG. 15 discloses a similar embodiment to FIG. 14 where the operatingfluid sump and/or the cold coil (evaporator coil of a heat pump) is inthermal communication with a cold water tank;

FIG. 16 discloses another embodiment where there is a dual discretecircuit system where the operating fluid of the water producing circuitpasses through a rapid heat exchanger;

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of another water producing and deliverydevice;

FIG. 18 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the waterproducing and delivery device showing various components therein and apotable water fluid circuit;

FIG. 19 schematically shows one embodiment of the water producing anddelivery device where the various components comprising the device aredisclosed therein and showing the potable water fluid circuit.

FIG. 20 is a partial schematic view of the cross-sectional front portionof the water producing and delivery device;

FIG. 20A shows a gravity fed filter system;

FIG. 21 shows one embodiment of a control circuit controlling thefunctionality of the water producing and delivery device;

FIG. 22 shows the water producing and delivery device having an upperportion and a lower portion in modular units;

FIGS. 23-26 show various states of the trifloat sensor system that isend position in the second reservoir tank whereby the trifloat system isone way of controlling the operations of the system;

FIGS. 27, 27 a, 28 and 28 a show one method of a heat exchanger that canfunction as a cooling element within the open loop air circuit;

FIG. 29 shows and example of a psychrometric chart;

FIG. 30 shows in exploded view of one form of a plate heat exchanger;

FIG. 31 shows isometric partial sectional view of a plate heatexchanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In general, the water producing device 20 as shown in FIG. 1A is adevice that encompasses psychrometric principles to extract water fromambient air and condense the water for various purposes such as potablewater. Below is a discussion of various embodiments for producing waterby way of psychrometric principles by cooling air and collectingcondensation droplets. Further, there are various methods forpurification of the water which are described below. Of course varioussections of each embodiment can be mixed and matched to compriseadditional combinations and effectively different various embodiments.In general, the various embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 disclose agravity fed type system. Of course various embodiments shown thereincould be utilized with a loop-type system which is shown and discussedin FIGS. 12-28A.

In general, the water producing device as shown in FIG. 1A comprises awater collection portion 22, a water purification portion 24 and a waterdelivery portion 23. These portions will now be generally discussedbelow.

General Discussion of Components

The water collection portion 22 is shown in various forms herein. Thebasic operating principle of the water collection portion is providing awater condensation member 30 that is adapted to be cooled by variousmethods to lower the temperature of air passing thereby to condense thewater therefrom.

There will now be a discussion of the general principle of condensingwater from the air with the aid of the chart as shown in FIG. 29. As aircools to a state as indicated at location 730 in the chart in FIG. 29,it can be appreciated that the vertical variation in the chart indicatedat 732 indicates the amount of water which has condensed from thisvolume of air. It should be further noted that the temperature locationindicated at 734 has dropped from the initial incoming temperatureindicated at 726, but the temperature indicated at 734 should not bebelow the freezing point of the water which of course is approximately32° F. (0° C.). Therefore, this basic psychrometric principal backgroundknowledge is useful for determining that it is desirable to lower thetemperature of the incoming air whereby the volume of air entering theopen loop air system should have an efficient heat transfer mechanism todraw heat therefrom to properly lower the temperature past the 100%humidity location indicated at temperature value 729 to begin extractingwater from the air.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that ambient air is cooled to its dewpoint and taken to a temperature therebelow to form water condensate.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1A where in general the water purificationportion 24 can be carried out in various forms were in one preferredform, as shown in FIG. 2 there is an ozone generation system 40 that isadapted to produce ozone and inject ozone within the main tank 34. Thissystem will be described in further detail below with reference to FIGS.6A and 6B in one preferred form of creating the ozone.

Finally, the water delivery portion 26 essentially is the interface fordistributing water where as shown in FIGS. 1 and 17, a system canencompass a hot and cold water nozzle as well as a room temperaturenozzle.

Heat pump/refrigeration cycles are well understood in thermodynamicdisciplines and generally comprise a condenser, an expander, anevaporator, a compressor and a refrigerant fluid. Some basic backgroundinformation on the heat pump cycle is provided herein. The condenser andexpanders are generally heat exchangers in some form which compriseelongated tubes circulated in a manner to maximize the exposed surfacearea. The heat pump cycle forms a close-loop circuit where therefrigerant fluid constantly heats up and cools down at various portionswithin the circuit. As the refrigerant fluid exits a compressor, thepressure of the fluid is increased substantially in pursuant to thenatural gas law, and the temperature increases as well. The compressoris in communication with the condenser and the exiting hot refrigerantfluid which is warmer than the ambient conditions will cool down andcondense to a liquid within the close looped system. Therefore, therefrigerant which is now under high pressure and in liquid form withinthe condenser, passes to an expander which is fluid communicationallyinterposed between the evaporator and the condenser.

The expander in general is an orifice type restrictor that maintains apressure drop from the upstream side (near the condenser) to thedownstream side (near the evaporator). The expander allows for a higherpressure within the condenser and as the refrigerant passestherethrough, the expansion of the refrigerant provides for immediatecooling which lowers the temperature of the evaporator. Therefore, thecool refrigerant, which is at a temperature below ambient conditions,draws heat from adjacent ambient air. Because the refrigerant hasexpanded to lower pressure, pursuant to the natural gas law of PV=nRT(or one of the equivalent natural gas equations) the temperature dropscommensurately with the drop of the pressure to balance this equation.The drop in temperature is conducted through the outer surface of theevaporator coil and this heat gradient with the ambient temperaturedraws heat thereto. Depending upon the location within the close-loopstream in the evaporator, the refrigerant having a rather low boilingpoint will evaporate therein drawing heat from the ambient conditions.Thereafter, the gaseous refrigerant passes to the compressor where it isre-compressed and the closed looped circuit continues.

Detailed Discussion of Components and Systems

Referring back to FIG. 1A, there will be a discussion of the preferredform of extracting, purifying and delivering water. It should be notedthat described throughout there are various combinations for executingvarious functions of the water producing device 20. For example, thereare a plurality of ways of cooling the water condensate member 30 whichwill now be described in detail with reference to the various figures.Further, various methods of purifying the water are described, many ofwhich can be used in conjunction with the various methods of condensingand obtaining the water. Therefore, it should be appreciated thatvarious combinations of elements can be combined for a wide variety ofembodiments which are greater than the number of figures disclosedherein. Further, various optional components such as hot and cold watertanks can be incorporated.

By way of a of electro-kinetic air transporter similar to that asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,163,098 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,801 whichare hereby incorporated by reference. Discussed herein is a preferredmethod of purifying the water and cleansing it of bacteria by way of anozone generator. The ozone generator is defined broadly to cover methodsof producing ozone as described herein as well as other storage typecontainers to distribute ozone. Alternatively, other methods exist, suchas iodine impregnated into a resin substrate which is disclosed furtherherein. Therefore, the general portions such as the water collectionportion 22 and the water purification portion 24 can be mixed andmatched to comprise additional embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the water producing device 20 comprises a casing 31having an upper portion 44 and a lower portion 46. The casing 31 furtherhas a first longitudinal portion 48 and a second longitudinal portion50. An air inlet 52 is provided, and as shown in FIG. 1A the area inletis located at the upper portion 46 and ambient air is adapted to passtherethrough to the interior portion of the casing 42. Located in thelower portion 46, the air exit 54 is provided where the air biasingmember 56 is positioned adjacent thereto. In this embodiment, the casingis substantially hermetically sealed but for the air inlet and airoutlet 52 and 54 whereby the lower pressure within the casing by the airbiasing member 56 causes air to pass through the air inlet 52 andthrough the water condensing member 30.

It should be noted that the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1A shows anarrangement where the air inlet 52 is positioned at the firstlongitudinal portion 48 and the air exit 54 is positioned at the secondlongitudinal portion 50. This orientation is desirable where as shown inFIG. 2F, the units can be stacked in a manner where air enters a firstlongitudinal portion 49 of the collection 18 of units 20 and exits atthe second longitudinal portion 51.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the water collection portion 22 comprises theaforementioned water condensate member 30 and the collection tray 56.The collection tray has a perimeter portion 58 that extends around theextremes of the water condensation member 30. The perimeter portionshould encompass the extremes of the water condensation member wherebydripping water therefrom should land upon the upper surface 62 and bedirected to the passageway 64. In a preferred form, the upper surface 62slopes toward the passageway 64 so the water does not pool on thesurface 62. The passageway 64 is in communication with the channel 66which passes through a first filter 68. In a preferred form, the firstfilter 68 is employed which, as described in detail below, can operatein conjunction with one form of the water purification portion 24 thatutilizes an ozone generator. Further, the sediment filter 67 can bepositioned downstream of the collection tray 56 which is adapted toremove sediment material from the incoming water. Of course this isoptional and an incoming filter located at the air intake 52 can removea large majority of solid material and bacteria for certain filters suchas impregnated iodine filters. The first filter 68 can have a dualbenefit of purifying the downwardly flowing water that is gravity fedfrom the collection tray 56 to the main tank 34, and further purify theair traveling upwardly from the main tank 34 to the passageway 64 andeventually to the surrounding atmosphere. It should be noted that theterm “first filter” (and “second filter” for that manner) although iswritten in a singular form is defined to possibly have more than onephysical filter to comprise the filter. For example the first filtercould comprise of a filter for the incoming water and another filter forthe exiting gas/ozone. Further, the second filter assembly 114 mayconsist of one filter such as that as shown in FIG. 2.

Downstream of the first filter 68 is the main tank that is introducedabove which is adapted to hold water therein. As described furtherherein, the main tank can be further utilized for distributing water notonly for consumption or its intended purpose, but further for channelingit through the water condensation member 30 as described further hereinwith references to FIGS. 3 and 4.

With the foregoing description of the water collection portion 22 inmind, there will now be a thorough description of the water purificationportion 24. It should be noted that the references 22 and 24 for thegeneral portions are not necessarily exact specific components that areclearly delineated to each portion, but rather these portions representgeneral functional componentry that in some cases work synergisticallytogether to perform the various discrete tasks of collecting water andpurifying the water and insuring bacterial growth is minimized.

The water purification portion 24 as shown in FIG. 2 comprises the ozonegeneration system 40 having an ozone generator 70 which, as shown inFIG. 6B, comprises an electrolyzer tube 76 and a spark generator 78. Ofcourse in other forms the ozone generator can be an ozone source such asan ozone tank or an ozone generator with the capacitance tank to holdozone therein and keep it stable.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the electrolyzer tube 76, in a preferred form,comprises a first electrically conductive cylinder 80 and a secondelectrically conductive cylinder 82. The second electrically conductivecylinder has a center axis that is substantially co-linear with thecenter axis of the first cylinder 80. Interposed between the outersurface 86 of the cylinder 82 in the inner surface 84 of the outercylinder 80, are a set of acid resistant material coatings. In one form,a first glass cylinder 88 is positioned adjacent to the surface 84 andan inner glass tubing 90 is positioned adjacent to the outer surface 86of the second electrically connected cylinder 82. The inner surface 92of the glass cylinder 88 and the outer surface 94 of the glass cylinder90 define a passageway 96 allowing air to be passed therethrough. A fanor other type of air biasing device can bias the air through thepassageway 96. As shown in FIG. 6B, the electrolyzer tube 76 has a firstend 77 and a second end 79. Essentially, the air enters the first end 77through the passageway 96 (see FIG. 6A) and exits through the second end79 and passes though line 98 to the main tank 34 as shown in FIG. 2.

Line 98 is in communication with opening 100 which injects ozonetherein. Present experimentation has found that injecting the ozone atbroad range of 10-250 milligrams per hour or 75-150 milligrams in a morenarrow range. However successful result have been found at 10milligrams/hr for a ten gallon storage tank or thereabout to produces adesirable effect. Of course these rates are changed with respect to thesize of the tank and the throughput of water therethrough. The ozonerises up to the center portion of the main tank 34 and distributesradially outwardly therefrom with what appears to be a fairly thoroughand complete distribution for killing bacteria.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tank 34 has an inspection opening 91 whichallows inspection of the contents of the tank 34 and access to thetrifloat or the float sensor system (see FIG. 2A) similar to that asshown in FIG. 23 for the control system of the unit 20. The panel 91 canbe a removable panel and optionally have a transparent section to allowvisual inspection without any removal of such a panel. Further, the maintank 34 can have a sight glass 93 which allows for visual inspection ofthe water and material contained therein. This allows for viewing theozone at the perimeter portion and in one form is nice to have in thecorner region to ensure the ozone is reaching the extremities of themain tank 34.

The ozone generator in one form is on timer and produces ozone tenminutes for every hour. The ozone generator could further be controlledby the ozone sensor as shown in FIG. 2A or on continuously if it isproperly sized to the tank. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, there are moredetailed views of the main tank 34 where FIG. 2A has a diffuser 73 whichin one form is a microporous material such as pumice, Kynar® or glass orother conventionally material which forms the ozone bubbles 75 in a muchsmaller diameter which essentially creates a greater surface area tointerface with the water and kill bacteria. Present analysis indicatesthat this type of system radiates the ozone radially outward at theupper surface 79 in a direction as indicated by the arrows 81 to get theperimeter portions 83 of the tank 34. Present analysis further indicatesthat biofilm is most likely to occur in the perimeter portions 83 of thetank particularly near the surface. This diffuser method of injectingthe ozone has been found to be very effective against biofilm andprevent formation of material growing on the surface of the tank 34.FIG. 2B discloses a manifold system where the diffuser 73 a has lateralextensions for a larger tank. In this embodiment, essentially the ozoneis distributed out over a larger area to cover a larger tank, say forexample 100 gallons or more.

In general bacteria are microscopically small, single-cell creatureshaving a primitive structure. The bacteria body is sealed by arelatively solid-cell membrane. Ozone interferes with the metabolism ofbacterium-cells, most likely through inhibiting and blocking theoperation of the enzymatic control system. A sufficient amount of ozonebreaks through the cell membrane, and this leads to the destruction ofthe bacteria. Viruses are small, independent particles, built ofcrystals and macromolecules, Unlike bacteria, viruses multiply onlywithin the host cell. They transform protein of the host cell intoproteins of their own. Ozone destroys viruses by diffusing through theprotein coat into the nucleic acid core, resulting in damage of theviral RNA. At higher concentrations, ozone destroys the capsid, orexterior protein shell by oxidation so DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), orRNA (ribonucleic acid) structures of the microorganism are affected.

In general ozonation of water is considered a “clean” process and doesnot produce any undesirable chemical by-products other than ozone itselfwhich is handled by the first and second filters. However, the sameaggressive nature which gives ozone the ability to attack and killmicroorganisms also makes it especially tough on the materials whichcome in contact with it. The components exposed to ozone must be ozoneresistant to lengthen the life and efficiency of the system. One type ofmaterial is produced by Griffin Technics, Inc. of Lodi, N.J., Kynar®polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a choice for injection nozzles,tubing, diffusers and other constructions. Materials to be utilized forcomponents in contact to ozone can be found at www.ozonesolutions.info.A list of possible materials in shown below with a rating of thematerial's effectiveness to resistant oxidation to ozone.

ABS plastic B - Good Brass B - Good Bronze B - Good Butyl A - ExcellentChemraz A - Excellent Copper B - Good CPVC A - Excellent Durachlor-51A - Excellent Durlon 9000 A - Excellent EPDM A - Excellent EPR A -Excellent Ethylene-Propylene A - Excellent Fluorosilicone A - ExcellentGlass A - Excellent Hastelloy-C ® A - Excellent Hypalon ® A - ExcellentInconel A - Excellent Kalrez A - Excellent Kel-F ® (PCTFE) A - ExcellentLDPE B - Good PEEK A - Excellent Polyacrylate B - Good Polycarbonate A -Excellent Polysulfide B - Good Polyurethane, Millable A - Excellent PTFE(Teflon ®) A - Excellent PVC B - Good PVDF (Kynar ®) A - ExcellentSantopren A - Excellent Silicone A - Excellent Stainless steel - 304 B -Good/Excellent Stainless steel - 316 A - Excellent Titanium A -Excellent Tygon ® B - Good Vamac A - Excellent Viton ® A - Excellent

FIG. 2A further has a float sensor 85 which is utilized to shut off themechanism to cool the condensation coil 30 to prevent further water frombeing generated. The float sensor would interface with the control boxto function the controls. There is further an ozone sensor in one formwithin the tank 34 which detects whether ozone is present and whichindicates if the ozone generation system 40 is operational. The ozonesensor 87 can either be submersed in the water or positioned thereabovethe water as indicated by 87 a. Further, an ozone detector outside ofthe tank can be present to indicate if there is any leak to detect ifozone is leaking or if the system is somehow malfunctioning within thecasing. This optional ozone sensor basically is another failsafe systemto ensure the system is functional. Further, the ozone sensor as shownin FIG. 2 a can be utilized to determine the amount of ozone and thiscan regulate the production of ozone and be used by the control systemto determine how much ozone to emit to the tank 34.

It should be noted that the first and second filters 68 and 114 could beother forms and carbon filters and could be for example UV light whichis adapted to have ozone (O³) go back to O². In this area the UV lightis not necessarily in place to kill bacteria but rather remove the ozonefrom the system so it does not expel into the drinking water or thefinal water ejected from the system 20 or emitted into the air. Further,heat can be utilized to convert the ozone. As shown in FIG. 1A, thefirst filter can also be as shown at 68′ where only gas from the maintank exits therefrom. The filter 68′ can be in conjunction with adownward filter 68 or a downward filter 68 can be removed entirely. Ifonly filter 68 is used than it functions to both filter the incomingwater and exiting gas with ozone.

It should be further noted that the main tank as shown in say forexample FIG. 2B can be a bladder system whereby the bladder is made of aflexible material that is one form ozone resistant with the ozonekilling system and water entering therein will fill the bladder and aswater exits the bladder will decrease in volume whereby air is notpresent in the bladder which aids in mitigating bacterial growth. Thissystem as a course can be utilized for the embodiment as shown in FIG.17.

It has been found that a desirable type of ozone collecting filter tocomprise the first and second filters is a conventional carbon filter.In a preferred form, the first filter 68 is a carbon filter which asdescribed above is gravity fed from the collection tray 56 and furtheris adapted to absorb ozone flowing upwardly from the main tank 34. Thefirst filter 68 could comprise other filters as well, such as a sedimentfilter for collecting potential sediment material that can accumulate inthe collection tray 56.

Positioned beneath the main tank 34 are the hot tank 110 and the cooltank 112. In a preferred form, hydrostatic pressure biases the waterfrom the main tank 34 to the hot and cold tanks 110 and 112. The hottank can have a conventional electric type heater to keep the watertherein and be properly insulated. Further, the hot tank should have aninner surface which is resistant to ozone such as stainless steel or thelike. The cool tank 112 can operate on its own heat pump cycle where aseparate compressor and expander provide a working fluid which cools thewater within the tank 112. Downstream from the hot and cold tanks 110and 112 is a second filter assembly 114 having filters 116 and 118. Inone form, the filters 116 and 118 are carbon filters that are adapted toremove ozone from the water.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative arrangement where the second filterindicated at 120 is positioned upstream from a manifold distributing tothe hot tank, cold tank and room temperature water distribution lines.In this embodiment, the ozone is removed upstream from the hot and coldtanks and only one filter is required. Of course this can be used inconjunction with the airflow schematic as shown in FIG. 1A as well asother embodiments described herein.

Alternatively, as shown by the hatched line, a single second filter 120can be utilized upstream from the hot and cold tanks 110 and 112. Withthis arrangement, the tanks 110 and 112 do not necessarily need to beozone resistant.

The first and second filters 68 and 120 (or the filter assembly 114 tooperate as the second filter) should be reasonably accessible to the enduser for replacement at periodic intervals dependent on time or usage.Of course the control interface display 21 as shown in FIG. 1 coulddisplay an indicator to change the filters by determining a properperiod of time or usage of the device where a flow meter can beinterjected somewhere along the fluid path to determine the amount offlow therethrough. Further, changing of the filters could be determinedby the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generator system 40 or bya flow meter in the line to indicate the quantity of water passingtherethrough.

As described in FIG. 2C, there is another configuration of a waterpurification portion 24′ where a water line 91 passes through the pump93 and a Venturi-like member 95 is adapted to increase the velocity andcause a low pressure therein which is common in a Venturi and a linewith a check valve 97 is in communication to an ozone generator/tank70′. A second filter 120′ is adapted to remove the ozone before thewater is delivered to the water dispensing portion schematicallyindicated at 23′.

As shown in FIG. 2D there is a variation of FIG. 2C where the water line91′ passes through the pump 93′ and there is an ozone generator 70′adapted to pass ozone through the check valve 97′ to Venturi 95′. Theline 91 essentially circulates back to the main tank 34′. A secondfilter arrangement indicated at 120 is adapted to remove ozone beforedispensing the water.

It should be noted that the above two noted embodiments as illustratedin FIGS. 2C-2D illustrate another method of injecting ozone where it canbe appreciated. There are a variety of methods of mixing ozone to thewater and subsequently removing it therefrom (or keeping it therein ifthe water is to be stored for example). A Venturi can have an addedbenefit of creating a very turbulent mixture which circulates the ozonevery thoroughly. The embodiment as shown in FIG. 2C may be particularlyhelpful in an on-demand type system. It should be noted that the ozonegenerator is shown by way of one example in the various embodiments andany number of ozone generators can be employed which includesstorage-type containers of ozone. The check valves 97 and 97′ shouldhave a fairly low cracking pressure since the lower gauge pressure ofthe Venturi may be relatively small.

Further, the systems as described in FIGS. 1-2D could be a hydrogenperoxide type injection system where hydrogen peroxide is utilized tokill bacteria. Further, a product referred to as Oxylink could alsopotentially be utilized for killing bacteria where the carbon filters orother type of proper filters for removing these additives can beutilized. In this form, the ozone generator 70 could alternatively be ahydrogen peroxide tank injecting hydrogen peroxide into the system.

FIG. 2E shows yet another embodiment where the electronic generator 100and when comprises first and second electrode line 103 and 105 that areadapted to carry positive and negative charges therein. Essentially, theelectrode line have an electrode portion positioned within the tank thatdelivers electrical charge thereto. Present analysis indicates that thisis a operational way of killing bacteria. The analysis further is basedupon that the killing mechanism is the production of byproducts which isbelieved to be ozone. Therefore, the ozone removing filters are suitedto be used in this embodiment.

FIG. 2G shows a modification to the main tank 34″ where the float sensor85″ is positioned above the main tank compartment indicated at 35″ wherethe first filter is positioned upstream of the float sensor 85″. Thisembodiment is desirable in situations where the air volume within themain tank 34″ is desired to be minimized. In certain situations bacteriais more conducive to grow around the perimeter portions 83 as shown inFIG. 2A. Therefore, it can be desirable to keep water production at amaximum to fill the tank 34″ until the flow sensor 85″ turns off thewater production. The filter 68 in FIG. 2G can be vertically orientated.

Positioned in the lower portion of the casing 31 is the set of hot coils55 that are in fluid communication with the water condensing member 30(which is an evaporator in a heat pump cycle) and the compressor 57compresses a refrigerant fluid through the hot coils (condensing coilsto condense the operating refrigerant fluid/gas) where the air cools byway of the biasing member 56 and the fluid passes to the watercondensing member 30 where the water condenses on the outer surface.

Now referring to FIG. 1A, there is shown a similar assembly whereby theair intake 52 and air exit 54 are positioned at the first longitudinalportion 48 and second longitudinal portion 50 respectively. As shown inFIG. 2F, this air flow scheme allows for a stacking arrangement whereair flows from the first longitudinal portion to the second longitudinalportion in all of the units 20 that comprise a water producing assembly18. Positioned in the lower portion of the casing 31 is the hot coil 55with the air biasing member 56 adapted to move air from the port 122 tothe port 124. In one form, the air travels in the same direction asindicated by arrow 126 from the first longitudinal portion to the secondlongitudinal portion of the casing 31. It should be noted that the airbiasing member 57, which one form is a rotary fan, can be utilized totransfer the air exiting the port 54 and air conditioning purposes.Further, the port indicated at 124 in FIGS. 1A and 1B can be utilized tobe channeled for heat for any purpose where heat is required or desired.

The filter at the air intake 52 should have in one form a sediment-typefilter to remove particulate matter from the air coming inward. One formis having an antibacterial filter which in one form has iodine or someantibacterial agent contained therein or peroxymonosulfate made byDuPont which goes by the trade name L-Gel. The incoming air can have anelectrostatic air filter or an air ionizer to assist in killing incomingbacteria.

In a dead leg situation for the lines down stream of the tanks and 110and 112 as shown in FIG. 1B, the ozone accessory lines 123 and 125 canbe utilized to pump ozone upstream of the carbon filters 116 and 118 inFIG. 1B for mitigating bacteria growth. Such interjection can be done ata periodic time based on a PLC controller at off hours such as midnightor in the wee hours of the morning or other any time when use isminimal. Further, a flow meter can be positioned in the sensor whichdetects a lack of flow for a period of time which would instigate aninflux of ozone through the auxiliary lines. It should be noted that thelines 123 and 125 can be positioned downstream of the filters 116 and118 or an additional set lines can be in communication at this locationwith a different valving system two pass ozone thereto. Essentially, ifthe downstream line of the carbon filters is relatively long and a longperiod of time is past or other factor indicating bacterial growth maybe present in the deadly, ozone can be injected into this side isdownstream of the ozone air moving filters 116 and 118.

The unit 20 can further be an air purifier, particularly when thetechnology as recited in U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,801 is utilized whereparticulate matter is removed from the air and further air is biasedacross the water condensation members 30. It should be noted that theunit is fairly quiet and the decibel rating is very low where the ozonegenerator is particularly quiet in its particular configuration and theembodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a gravity feed-type systemtends to have a very low noise rating.

Various coatings for the components for evaporator coil/watercondensation member 30 can utilized such as polyurethane, Teflon, nickelplating, baked phenolic on the exterior of the evaporator coil. Itshould be noted that in FIG. 1A, an EPR valve can be utilized with thecompressor which modulates the coil temperature to maintain it justabove freezing. Further, a hot gas bypass can be utilized where gas fromthe evaporator coil 55 is directed back upwardly toward the watercondensation member 30 to prevent freezing. A sensor that sits on theevaporator coil clicks on with a modulating valve to adjust the airflow.

In another form, as shown in FIG. 1A the temperature gauge indicated at39A can indicate a low-temperature where the bypass 39B is invoked andessentially goes around the expander 37 to essentially increase thepressure within the water condensation member 30 which is a condenserand evaporator coil. The types of compressors 57 can be a scroll,linear, reciprocating, and rotary.

It should be further noted that the sensor indicated at 39 a could bethat of a thermister which is an electrical communication with the airbiasing member/fan 57 to control the rate of the volumetric throughputbased on the temperature of the water condensation member.

There will now be a discussion of various other methods of reducing thetemperature of the water condensation member 30 with reference to FIGS.3-5A.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment where the water condensation member 30Aprovides a passage therein and is in communication with the main tank34. Present analysis indicates that having colder water within the maintank helps to inhibit bacterial growth. Further, a cool temperature,particularly a cool temperature on a surface, is needed to formcondensate to drip to a collection tray as described above. Therefore, arapid heat exchanger 230 which in one form is a plate heat exchanger canbe utilized where the pump 232 biases water from the main tank 34through a heat exchanger to the water condensation member 30. In oneform, the rapid heat exchanger is cooled by way of a heat pump cycle 234which has the compressor 236 the refrigerant operating fluid condensercoil 238 and an expander 240. The refrigerant evaporator coil (the coldcoil) is within the rapid heat exchanger 230.

One form of a plate heat exchanger is shown in FIGS. 30 and 31 which issimilar to that of a conventional plate heat exchanger sold by St. ClairSystems of Romeo, Mich. In general, there is in the port the rapid heatexchanger 230 that comprises a first inlet port 900 and the first outletport 902 which is for example in communication with the chamber that asshown in the exploded view of FIG. 30 at 904. The second inlet andoutlet ports 906 and 908 are adapted to have a second fluid passtherethrough which could be communication with the chamber defined at910 where the unit is fully assembled.

Plate heat exchangers are considered advantageous for being utilized asa rapid heat exchanger because the various opposing ripples 912 and 914create a turbulent flow where a partial sectional view in FIG. 31 showsthe crisscross light pattern creating discrete passageways 920 alongeach fluid circuit layer. One preferred form, the heat exchanger 230 iscomprised of a plastic material where because the operating fluid mayoperate at relatively low pressure is and within a reasonabletemperature range, a plastic injection molded process can be utilizedwhere the plates such as 922 as shown in FIG. 30 can be stacked to giveadditional parallel fluid circuits to alter the amount and rate of heattransfer in different designs of the water producing unit 20. Furtherthe plastic could be highly thermally conductive or have thermalconductive material molded therein. Also given the low pressures theplates can be thin to have less thermal resistance between the twodiscrete fluids.

Essentially, as water is pumped by way of the pump 232 through the maintank line 242, the heat pump system 234 is in operation and cools waterwithin the main tank line 242. The main tank line has a return portion244 that feeds back to the main tank 34 at presumably a coolertemperature, which is somewhat warmer than the portion of the linepreceding the water condensation member 30A.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment whereby the cold coil (refrigerantevaporator coil) 239 of the heat pump system 234A is positioned withinthe main tank 34 or otherwise in thermal communication therewith director otherwise. In this embodiment, the entire mass of water within themain tank 34 is cooled and passed through the water condensation member30A.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the system as shown in FIG. 3 whereby acold dispensing line 246 is downstream from the rapid heat exchanger230. Essentially, the pressure transducer 248 detects a reduced pressurein the water dispensing line 246 which occurs when the nozzle 250 isdepressed whereby someone or some mechanical action is dispensing coldwater therefrom. The nozzle 250 can be the fluid dispensing portion in asimilar manner as shown at 23 in FIG. 1. The nozzles 23 a and 23 b canbe utilized to dispense hot and cold water from lines the hot and coldtanks/insta-heaters and insta-cold members. Further, a third nozzle candistribute room temperature water or a switch in the control panel 21When the pressure drops within the line 246, a control system canactivate the pump 232 which passes water through the main tank line 242,and an ozone removing filter 252 is positioned preceding the nozzle 250.This filter is similar to the second filter described above and in apreferred form is a simple carbon filter which is well-suited for movingozone in its aqueous form in the water. Of course if the water is notbeing utilized for potable water, the various filters can be removed,and in fact in some cases where ozone is desirable in certain industrialapplications, it may be beneficial to leave the ozone therein or leavethe ozone for prevention of bacterial growth and filter the water at afuture time as it remains stored in an ozone resistant tank.

FIG. 4 can have an alternative arrangement where the cooling coil 239 ispositioned around the tank 34 and insulation is then placed therearound.This embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5 a where downstream of, the maintank 34 has the evaporator coil positioned therearound with aninsulating member around that. Basically FIG. 5A discloses a coolingsystem where an evaporator coil is positioned around the main tank 34′is and heat is drawn therefrom the water 229 contained within the tank34′. An insulation layer 241 is positioned therearound to focus theextraction of heat from the water mass 229. A circulation pump 232′circulates water from the tank 34′ through the water condensation member30′ for condensation water droplets passing through an air stream. Theheat pump/refrigeration cycle 234′ is similar to that is describedabove. It should be noted that a thermally-conductive plastic could beutilized for many of these heat exchanger-type members such as the rapidheat exchanger as shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 7, there is a continuous absorption system 260 wherethe water condensation member 30B is positioned above the collectiontray 56. Continuous absorption systems are well known in the prior artand a brief description of one form of a system is described below.

The continuous-cycle absorption cooling system 260 can operated by theapplication of a limited amount of heat. This heat can be furnished bygas, electricity, kerosene or solar power or any other heat source. Inone form no moving parts are employed.

In general, the unit consists of four main parts similar to the abovementioned refrigeration cycle: the boiler, condenser, evaporator and theabsorber. When the unit operates on kerosene or gas, the heat issupplied by a burner or the like. This element is fitted underneath acentral tube. When operating on electricity, the heat is supplied by anelement inserted in a pocket like portion. The unit charge can becomprised of a quantity of ammonia, water, and hydrogen. These are at asufficient pressure to condense ammonia at room temperature.

When heat is supplied to the boiler system, bubbles of ammonia gas areproduced. They rise and carry with them quantities of weak ammoniasolution through a siphon pump. This weak solution passes into a tubewhile the ammonia vapor passes into a vapor pipe and on to the waterseparator.

At this point any water vapor that is condensed can be collected on thedrip tray, leaving the dry ammonia vapor to pass to the condenser. Aircirculating over the fins of the condenser removes heat from the ammoniavapor. It condenses into liquid ammonia and then flows into anevaporator.

In one form the evaporator is supplied with hydrogen. The hydrogenpasses across the surface of the ammonia. It lowers the ammonia vaporpressure enough to allow the liquid ammonia to evaporate. Theevaporation of the ammonia extracts heat from the evaporator. This, inturn, extracts heat from the food storage space, lowering thetemperature inside the refrigerator.

The mixture of ammonia and hydrogen vapor passes from the evaporator tothe absorber. A continuous trickle of weak ammonia solution enters theupper portion of the absorber. It is fed by gravity from the tube. Thisweak solution flows down through the absorber. It comes into contactwith the mixed ammonia and hydrogen gases. This readily absorbs theammonia from the mixture. The hydrogen is free to rise through theabsorber coil and to return to the evaporator. The hydrogen circulatescontinuously between the absorber and the evaporator.

The strong ammonia solution produced in the absorber flows down to theabsorber vessel. It passes on to the boiler system, thus completing thefull cycle of operation. This cycle operates continuously as long as theboiler is heated. A thermostat which controls the heat source regulatesthe temperature of the refrigerated space. Since the refrigerant isammonia, it can produce quite low temperatures. Except for thethermostatic controls, there are no moving parts. Lithium Bromide orother mediums can be utilized in place of ammonia as well.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment where a solar panel 262 is positionedabove the casing 31. Alternately, a remote panel 263 can be employedwhere electrical currents pass through the line 264. In general,electricity from the solar panel can run various components of the unit.In a preferred form, the unit is gravity fed where a pump does not needto circulate the water. The energy from the solar panel can be used tooperate the ozone generation system 40 and perhaps the rotary compressor57 (in one form) as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 illustrates the system where a thermoacoustic device 270 isutilized to cool the water condensation member 30C. This illustratesanother method of cooling the member 30. Thermoacoustics is an emergingfield at the time of this writing and shows prospects for allowingsufficient cooling of the member 30C for purposes of condensing andchilling water for consumption.

The thermoacoustic effect is the conversion of sound energy to heatenergy (or vice versa) with minimal if any moving parts. In general, asound wave travels back and forth and the gas medium compresses andexpands when the gas compresses it heats up and when it expands it coolsoff. Further, the medium gas also moves forward and backward in thedirection of the sound wave, stopping to reverse direction at the timewhen the gas is maximally compressed (hot) or expanded (cool).

In one form of implementing a thermoacoustic device, a plate of materialin the tube at the same temperature as the gas before the sound wave isstarted. The sound wave compresses and heats the gas. As the gas slowsto turn around and expand, the gas close to the plate gives up heat tothe plate. The gas cools slightly and the plate below the hot gas warmsslightly. The gas then moves, expands, and cools off, becoming colderthan the plate 273. As the gas slows to turn around and expand, the coolgas takes heat from the plate for example 271, heating slightly andleaving the plate adjacent thereto and the gas cooler than it was.

Therefore, one of the plates becomes cooler, and one becomes hotter (oralternatively portions of the same plate are hot and cold depending onthe configuration). If a plurality of plates are positioned adjacent toeach other providing making a space for the sound to go through, wherebythe placement of the plates are arranged in a manner with an optimallength in the optimal area of a tube containing an air medium and heatexchangers are attached thereto to provide thermal communication to getheat transferred in and out of the ends of the plates.

A thermoelectric device that utilizes the Peltier effect could beemployed as well. A thermoacoustic or thermoelectric device isparticular advantageous in a very space confining environment or whereshocks and vibration or rotation of the device with respect to thegravitational field flux would have an adverse effect on a heat pumpcycle assembly. Such devices as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,216 andU.S. Pat. No. 6,725,670 can be utilized which is incorporated byreference.

FIG. 10 shows a system similar to a geothermal system where the coolingmember 30D has an operating fluid passing therethrough which is biasedby a pump 278 that pumps the fluid through the cooling grid 280. Thecooling grid 280 could be submersed in the earth or a large body ofwater. The water returns through the portion 282 where it is cooler thanthe downstream portion 284 of the water condensation member 30D. Thefluid, which could be water within the line 282, should be sufficientlycold enough below the dew point of the atmospheric air to condense waterthereon. In some situations merely cooling the water to approximately60° F. is sufficiently cool enough to condense water in certain regionsof the world. A system such as this could be an affordable, more costeffective implementation to reduce the temperature of the condensationmember.

FIG. 11 shows a system similar to that shown in FIG. 10 whereby thesystem resembles a heat pump system where a compressor 288 heats anoperating fluid such as a common refrigerant fluid through the coolinggrid 280A. At 290, the operating fluid has reduced its temperature fromthe entry point at 292 and the expander 294 rapidly cools the fluidbefore being directed to the water condensation member 30E.

Referring now to FIG. 12, there is a schematic of a circulation filtersystem where the water condensation member 30F collects water in thisform by a heat pump cycle. The collection tray 56A collects the waterdroplets which are then in turn passed through line 301 to the bottomtank (first collection tank) 302. Water is then fed through line 304through the check valve 306 to line 310 by way of the pump 312. Line 308is optionally attached to tapwater to inject water into the watercircuit. The three-way valve 314 which in one form is a solenoid valve(which is how it will be referred to herein) can actually be a pluralityof valves which direct fluid from one line to two or more lines. Thethree-way valve 314 in one form directs water through the bank offilters (filter assembly) 316 which can be similar to the filters 500 asdescribed with reference to FIG. 19 described below. The water thentravels through line 317 to the three-way valve 318 where the water isdirected through line 319 to the UV light 328. The water is thendirected through the line 329 to the top tank 344. The top tank 344 inone form feeds the hot tank 340 by line 339 controlled by the valves 341and 343. Further, in one form the top tank additionally feeds the coldtank 342 where a cooling system similar to that as described in theembodiment shown in FIG. 19 provides cold water. A dispensing system isin communication with the hot and cold tanks 340 and 342. As describedfurther herein below, the tanks 344, 340 and 342 are in communicationwith the line 345 which circulates the fluid back to the bottom tank302. This circulation will occur when the unit is unplugged, forexample, and the hot tank needs to dump its contents because it may havegrown bacteria once it has cooled. Further, the logic of the system maycirculate the hot and cold tanks after a period of time to pass thewater through a filter system 316 to ensure bacteria growth isminimized.

There will now be a description of the embodiment schematically shown in300 in a different mode whereby instant cold water is delivered to thecold tank 342 by way of a different system. In this form, after passingthe three-way valve 314, water is passed to line 330 and directed out toline 338 from the rapid heat exchanger 320. The lines 332 and 334 carrya refrigerant fluid where three-way valves 329 and 331 direct the fluidfrom the compressor from the water condensation member 30F to the lines332 and 334 to the rapid heat exchanger 320. The valves 329 and 331 canbe EPR valves, hot gas bypass valves, Klixon®, etc (these valve typescan also be used for 365 and 367 in FIG. 13 below). The valves arepresent to hold the evaporator coils at more desirable temperature.Further a thermoresistor can be utilized to control the air biasingmembers or an electronic fluid valve.

The water which is now rapidly chilled passes through line 338 to theoptional three-way valve 322. The water then is directed to the coldtank 342 for dispensing cold water. Essentially, this embodiment allowsfor the compressor to have the functionality of cooling the watercondensation member 30F as well as cooling water for the cold tank 342.

Now referring to FIG. 13, there is another similar system where therefrigerant cycle in one form directs refrigerant from the compressor356 to the three-way valve 362 where refrigerant is directed down line364 to the condenser coil (hot coil) 365. Thereafter, refrigerant passesto the expander 383 where it cools and is directed through the watercondensation member 30G which is an evaporator coil for the refrigerantfluid passing therethrough. The heat refrigerant then passes down line352 to the three-way valve 354 and is directed back to the compressor356.

When the pressure switch 367 and line 366 detects the low pressure, thedispersion nozzle 32 is presumably opened where cold water has beenextracted therefrom. The water passes through the filter 376 (which is acarbon filter) if the ozone system is used. Water from either line 368or 371 is passed to the rapid heat exchanger 360. The three-way valves362 and 354 are switched whereby the refrigerant fluid now passesthrough line 363 to the rapid heat exchanger 360 which draws heat fromthe water passing therethrough from line 371 to line 366. The three-wayvalve 354 allows communication between the compressor 356 and the line358. When the pressure switch 367 detects an increased pressure wherebywater is no longer passing through line 366, the valves 362 and 354toggle back to the close loop refrigerant cycle system that is incommunication with the water condensation member 30G. Of course becausethis rapid cooling system should desirably allow a minimal amount ofwater flow before cooled water exits the nozzle through the tube, a pipefitting should be as short as possible in one form, the rapid heatexchanger 360 is in thermal communication downstream of the expander 383so there is minimal time for cooling the water flowing through the heatexchanger 360. The heat exchanger 360 would desirably be positioned veryclose to the nozzle 382 whereas line 366 would presumably be a short aspossible.

The water collects from the collection tray 56B through the filter 68Ato the main tank 34A. The ozone generation system 40A generates ozone tothe tank 34A in a similar manner as described above with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2. The line 377 passes to an instant heater 378 and thenthrough the carbon filter 380 to the dispersion nozzle 384 when thepressure switch 381 detects a low pressure or otherwise a sensor detectsthat water is desired to be dispersed from the dispersion nozzle 34. Theinsta-heater is a conventional type instant heater that rapidly raisesthe temperature by a heat exchanger and usually electrical currentpassing through a resistor like heater (of course a combustible gascould be used in particular with a continuous absorption device).Further, as described immediately above, water optionally flows throughline 368 and is biased by pump 369 to the check valve 370 to the rapidheat exchanger 360 when the pressure switch 367 detects low pressure ora sensing system otherwise detects water is desired to be transferredthrough the dispersion nozzle 382.

The water entrance line 371 would have a pressure switch 390 whichindicates whether that water is hooked up or not, a check valve 392 toensure water does not flow outwardly towards the tapwater and a solenoidvalve or other type of valve 394 which is controlled by a centralcontroller to optionally turn on the water when needed. For example, ifthe water in the main tank 34A is low, the solenoid valve could allowthe tapwater to flow through line 371 to the instant cooled system. Ofcourse optionally, line 371 could be in communication with the line 377with another valve to allow instant hot water from tap water as well.

As shown in FIG. 14, yet another embodiment is shown. FIGS. 14-16 show asystem where there are two separate fluid circuits. The embodiments asshown in FIGS. 14-16 allow for a smaller compressor to be utilized whichmaintains a lower temperature in an operating fluid such as ethanol,glycol, lithium bromide, saline, or another appropriate fluid that has asufficiently low freezing temperature. In essence, instead of having acompressor which is somewhat potentially overpowered and can cause thewater condensation member (which is the evaporator coil in a heat pumpcycle) to freeze, additional thermal capacitance is added to the systemby way of the second fluid circuit. Further, instead of having the heatpump cycle operate intermittently and turn off when the temperature istoo low and freezing begins on the evaporator coil, in the embodimentsas shown in FIGS. 14-16, a smaller compressor can be utilized thatperhaps operates for longer intervals or continuously where thecompressor is less expensive. Further advantages of the system as shownin FIGS. 14-16 will be apparent after the detailed description below.

The system 396 comprises a water condensation member 398 that is aportion of the first circuit 399. The circuit 399 has a fluid biasingmembers such as the pump 400 that is adapted to circulate an operatingfluid such as ethanol or glycol or any of the above mentionedpossibilities. The fluid sump 401 is adapted to hold the operating fluidtherein and further, as shown in FIG. 14, is adapted to provide athermal mass for the operating fluid to hold a low temperature. The heatpump cycle (or the second circuit) 402 is essentially a standard heatpump cycle as described above whereby the compressor 403 compresses arefrigerant such as freon or other appropriate fluids through thecondenser coil schematically shown at 403 where a fan or other airbiasing member passes air therethrough or the coil 403 is otherwisecooled. Thereafter, the refrigerant passes to the expander 404 whichreduces the temperature and heat is extracted from the evaporator coil405 from the sump 401, and more particularly the operating fluidcontained therein.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that as the fluid traveling thedirection as indicated by arrow 406 passes through the watercondensation member 398, it may drop a few degrees depending upon theheat transfer to the ambient air traveling thereby. The operating fluidthen passes back to the sump 401 where heat is transferred from theoperating fluid to the evaporator coil 405. Because the operating fluidonly dropped a few degrees and there can be much larger volume of fluidin the sump than there is contained within the water condensation member30, there is a fair amount of thermal capacitance to the first circuit399. Because there is a fair amount of thermal capacitance, the system396 can maintain a more constant temperature at the water condensationmember 398, and further, a smaller compressor 403 can be utilized in thesecond circuit 402. Present cost analysis indicates that a smallercompressor would have considerable savings not only in componentry butfurther in usage, where although the compressor may operate for longerperiods than a comparable system without the first circuit, the overallenergy consumption of a smaller compressor would overall be less costly.

Of course it should be noted that the FIGS. 14-16 are highly schematicand would be embodied in figures similar to FIG. 1A where the othercomponentry such as the water purification and dispersion portions areshown in a highly schematically manner at 407. It should be noted inFIG. 14 that the cooling part of the refrigeration cycle 402 which isnamely the evaporator coil can be in thermal communication at any partalong the fluid-creating circuit 406. For example, the coil could bewrapped around the flow of the circuit in a countercurrent flow-typearrangement to transfer heat from the water producing fluid circuit tothe refrigeration cycle.

As shown in FIG. 14, an air biasing member 397 can be an adjustable fanwhere a control panel adjusts the volumetric throughput of the fan basedupon various input parameters. Empirical analysis indicates that the fanhas a tremendous amount effect on how much energy is withdrawn from thewater condensation member 398. When the fan is in a lower velocity mode,the air has more time to engage the water condensation member 398 andhence more water or rather the temperature of the air drops further.Referring back to FIG. 29, in some cases depending upon the humiditywhich can be detected by a humidity sensor, it may be more desirable tonot drop the temperature of the air to a lower portion but ratherincrease the velocity of the air and have a higher volume pass therebyand extract less water per unit of volume of air but having greaterunits of volume pass by equates to more water that the system produces.Further, the pump 400 can be a variable speed pump, which affects theamount of heat transfer from the heat exchanger such as that as shown410 in FIG. 16 and further has an effect on the temperature of the watercondensation member.

With the foregoing basic description with reference to FIG. 14, therewill now be a description of alternative embodiments of FIG. 14referring to FIGS. 15-16. FIG. 15 shows a similar system where thesecond circuit 402 and the first circuit 399 have a portion thereofpositioned within a cold tank 112 a. Essentially, the schematic versionshows that the evaporator coil 405 is in thermal communication with thewater within the cold tank 112 a In this embodiment, the hot tank 110 acan be heated by any conventional means. Essentially, the water in thecold tank 112 a is in thermal communication with a cold portion ofeither the sump 401 or the evaporator 405. This embodiment illustrateshow the compressor 403 can fulfill the dual purpose of cooling the coldtank 112 a and cooling the operating fluid in the first circuit 399.

FIG. 16 shows another embodiment where the first circuit 399 a is incommunication with a rapid heat exchanger 410. Essentially, the heatpump cycle 402 a is similar to that above except the evaporator is partof a rapid heat exchanger which in one form is a plate heat exchanger.The sump 401 can be smaller than the sump as described in the figuresabove and the fluid circuit 399 a can essentially have less volume of anoperating fluid therein where the sump 401 a can further having ade-aerating portion to keep the gas out of the line. Alternatively thesump 401 a is minimized in volume and essentially non existent if theoperating fluid is contained in the fluid circuit is hermeticallysealed.

As shown in FIG. 16, there is a schematic view of a control system 411where the sensors 413 and 415 can provide feedback to the controlmechanism 411 as to the temperature and/or humidity. These values can becomputed by the control mechanism 411 to calculate the proper desirableexit temperature of the air at the sensor 415. Utilizing a chart such asthat as shown in FIG. 29 by the control mechanism 411, the mostdesirable amount of water can be withdrawn from the air. Further, apressure sensor acting with the control mechanism 411 can determinewhich psychrometric chart is utilized for the logic. For example, thechart in FIG. 29 is for a specific pressure where there is actually athree-dimensional grid extending out of the page of FIG. 29 for thevarious different pressures. Therefore, given for example, the sensor413 may detect that the atmosphere is at a state as indicated at point720. Therefore, a certain amount of energy must be withdrawn from theair to get it to a state say at 731 in FIG. 29. Therefore, the controlsystem 411 can adjust the parameters of the system such as the fan 397which adjusts the amount of air passing thereby and optionally the flowrate of the operating fluid to have an exit temperature measured atsensor 415 that is approximately below past the dew point. Further, thewater condensation member 398 a can be constructed of a certain size forcertain regions to have a most optimal effect.

The a control system 411 and the sensors 413 and 415 can also beutilized in the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 where thecontrol system alters the valves 365 and 367 in FIG. 13 and valves 329and 331 of FIG. 12. The control of these valves is another method ofadjusting the temperature of the evaporator coil. Of course the controlsystem can alter a combination of the evaporator coil and the variablefan (not shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 but schematically shown in FIG. 16).

It should be noted that one perceived benefit of the dual circuit systemas shown in FIGS. 14-16, is an increase in efficiency of the waterproducing system. The evaporator coil 405 is generally specified inlength and size with respect to the power of the compressor/pump 403.This size is limiting when trying to extract air directly from anevaporator coil because the length of the coil and available surfacearea to come in contact with the air as it is biased by is limited. Itis desirable to have a lower powered compressor because they aregenerally less expensive and they further require less power foroperation. Therefore, the water condensation member 398 as shown in FIG.14 can be larger with a separate loop having the operating fluid such asglycol contained therein. Further, there is a fundamental benefit ofhaving the second circuit where reference is again made to FIG. 29.

As shown in this psychrometric chart in FIG. 29, it can be appreciatedthat the steeper slope of the dew point is at the higher temperatures.Therefore, there is an exponential growth of water of air being able tohold water at higher temperatures. In the same fashion, at highertemperatures per unit of decreased temperature creates a greater amountof water condensing from the air then a similar decrease in temperatureat a lower temperature. Therefore, for example, it would be moredesirable to cool an air steam to a point indicated at 728 at FIG. 29 toa second point indicated at 731 which decreases the temperature by anamount as indicated at 733 where there is less enthalpy change. Thiscondensation of course requires a certain amount of energy per volume ofair (actually condensation produces energy, gives off heat, but for thepurpose of describing the refrigeration cycle, lowering the dry bulbtemperature of the air requires energy by way of the compressor/pump).To extract the same approximate amount of water with say half the volumeof air as immediately described above, the distance 737 indicates a muchgreater reduction in temperature which equates to a much greater usageof energy to get the same amount of water from point 728 to point 731.Therefore, it would be more advantageous to have a higher volume of airto reduce in temperature from point 728 to point 731 extracting watertherefrom than it would be to extract half the volume of air and reduceit to a greater temperature indicated at 735 which would overall equateto the same amount of condensation dropped. In other words, the distance733 plus 737 is greater than twice the distance of 733 (or the estimatedenergy differential based on the enthalpy change, but temperaturedifference comparison gives the general idea). Therefore, it can beappreciated that a greater flexibility of adjusting the fins, overallsurface area, low rates, etc. and every other factor dealing with theheat transfer for the water producing circuit 406 and more particularly,the water condensation member 398 than if only this evaporator coil isused.

With the foregoing description in mind, there is now reference to yetanother embodiment with initial reference to FIG. 17. As shown in FIG.17, the water producing and delivery device 420 comprises a waterdispensing area 422 and external housing 424, as shown in FIG. 19, anopen loop ambient air system 426 and a potable water fluid circuit 428.The open loop ambient air system 426 comprises a cooling element 430 (inone form an evaporator 430), an air biasing mechanism 432 (an electricrotary fan, such as a squirrel cage fan in one form), and an air filter434. As shown in FIG. 18, the air filter 434 is positioned at an airinlet port 436 that is a portion of the external housing 424. Theexternal housing 424 can be equipped with acoustic insulation to preventnoise from escaping from the water producing and delivery device 420.The air filter 434 should be upstream of the ambient air flow indicatedat 440 in FIG. 19 of the cooling element 430. The cooling element 430 isadapted to be at a temperature preferably above freezing within a fewdegrees and adapted to have water from the ambient air condense thereon.Therefore, it is desirable to have the air be relatively free of dustparticles when passing through the cooling element 430. In one form, thecooling element 430 is part of a heat pump assembly indicated at 442 inFIG. 19.

FIG. 19 schematically shows the heat pump assembly/cycle 442. The heatpump assembly 442 comprises a cooling element/evaporator 430, acondenser 444, and a compressor 446. Between the fluid communication ofthe condenser 444 and the evaporator 430 is an expander that is notshown. As described above, the expander can be a fluid resistor of somesort to allow a pressure differential between the lower pressureevaporator 430 and the relatively higher pressure condenser 444. Theevaporator 430 can be a plate heat exchanger to minimize the size of theunit. Further, contained within the elements of the heat pump assembly442 is a refrigerant which in one form is R-134A which has desirablecondensation and evaporation points for the temperatures that aredesirable of the heat pump assembly 442. In general, as the refrigerantliquid exits the compressor 446, the fluid passes through line 450 tothe condenser 444 where the ambient air 440 passes around the outersurface of the coil comprising the condenser 444. As the gaseousrefrigerant exits the compressor 446 through line 450, it is compressedand heated by virtue of the natural gas law described above. The ambientair indicated at 440C in FIG. 19 that has just exited the coolingelement 430, is at a relatively low temperature just above freezing andis cooler than the ambient temperature, and hence provides for a verylarge temperature gradient whereby rapidly cooling the refrigerant fluidpassing through the condenser 444. It should be noted that in one formit is desirable to use the air exiting the cooling element/evaporator430 and the open loop ambient air system 426 to cool down the condenser444 because of the large temperature gradient. Normally, in most heatpump applications, this would be a waste of energy whereby the ambientair that is cooled is the same air that is heated not providing anyoutput useful temperature differentiation. However, because in thisspecific application the desired result is removal of water from theambient air, it is less crucial to have the exiting air at any specifictemperature. However, in one form the air flow can be bifurcated wherebythe unit would operate as an air conditioner where the condenser coil isin communication with an outdoor ambient supply and hence the condenser444 would heat this air and pass that air away from an indoor air supplywhereby the ambient air passing through the evaporator 430 would exit ata lower temperature.

Referring back to the main embodiment as shown in FIG. 19, therefrigerant passes through an expander of some sort (not shown) andthereafter passes through an evaporator/cooling element 430. It shouldbe noted that in one form, the cooling element 430 is an evaporator in aheat pump assembly 442. However, in other forms as described furtherbelow, the cooling element could be provided by other engineeringmethods such as thermoelectrics or thermoacoustics described herein. Theambient air indicated at 440B. that passes through the coils of theevaporator 430 is cooled and the relative humidity increases past adewpoint where water condensation droplets 450 form thereon the outersurface of the cooling element/condenser 430. In one form, the outersurface of the element 430 is coated with a polypropelene material thatis particularly hydrophilic and allows the water to collect in dropletsand drip therefrom to a drip collection tray 452 described herein.

A thermal sensor 455 and/or 456 is employed that detects the temperatureof the outer surface of the cooling element 430. In one form, thethermal sensors 455 and 456 are a thermister that correlates thetemperature with electrical resistance for control purposes. It shouldbe noted that the position of the thermal sensors 455 and 456 (oradditional thermal sensors) can be placed at various locations along therefrigerant fluid path through the cooling element/evaporator 430. Forexample, the location of the thermal sensor 456 is just past the outputof the condenser 444. Generally, this is the coolest portion of thecooling element 430. It should be noted that it is desirable to have acountercurrent flow of the ambient air stream 440. The incoming airindicated at 440A that is presumably room temperature interfaces withthe latter portion of the circuit of the cooling element 430 indicatedat 458. Because the transfer of heat to the liquid in the coolingelement 430 occurs during the course of its path therealong, thetemperature will rise gradually and the ambient air passing therethroughwill lower in temperature. Because heat transfer is mandated by atemperature differential, the countercurrent flow of the ambientairstream 440 with respect to the refrigerant liquid within the coolingelement 430 is desirable because the ambient air that is presumably muchcooler at the portion indicated at 440B, needs a relatively coolersurface at the cooling element near portion 460 to provide a temperaturegradient to further cool the air. Therefore, having a thermal sensor 456at this location 460 along the cooling element 430 is desirable becausethis presumably will be the coolest portion of the cooling element 430.The refrigerant liquid exits the downstream flow portion 458 of theevaporator/cooling element 430 and passes through line 461 back to thecompressor 446 where it is circulated in a close-loop system.

It should be noted that utilizing proper psychrometric principles,having the cooling element 430 a temperature above freezing is desirableto facilitate the condensation of water and extraction of the waterdroplets 450 to the aforementioned collection drip tray 452. Asmentioned above the control system should adjust the temperature of theair and the flow rate to optimize the condensation. Of course the dualloop system as described above with reference to FIGS. 14-16. Asdescribed further herein, the temperature sensor 456 in one form is apart of the control circuit 480 where the flow of ambient air by the airbiasing mechanism 432 is controlled where the force convection caused bysaid air biasing mechanism 432 controls the heat transfer from theambient air strain 440 thereto the cooling element 430. This controlmechanism is described further herein following further backgrounddescription of additional components and their interoperability. Amuffler 445 can be positioned downstream of the air biasing mechanism432 as shown in FIG. 18.

Now looking further upstream of the open loop ambient air system 426, anair filter 434 is preferably upstream of the cooling element 430 andadapted to remove particulate matter therefrom the ambient air strain440. It should be noted that the ambient air stream 440 is drawn fromthe ambient air and is presumably at room temperature. Of course, if anair supply that is particularly humid is available in some form, ductingcould be provided to direct this air to the open loop ambient air system426 for extraction of water therein.

To facilitate the flow of the ambient air stream, the aforementioned airbiasing mechanism 432 is provided which in one form is a rotary fanpowered by an electric motor 470. The electric motor in a desirable formis a variable speed motor which, as described herein, the controlcircuit 480 dictates the rotational speed and the volumetric throughputof air therethrough based upon inputs from the thermal sensors 455and/or 456.

There will now be a discussion of the potable water fluid circuit 428with reference continuing on FIG. 19. In general, the potable waterfluid circuit 428 comprises a water collection portion 472, a filterassembly 474, a water distribution portion 476, and a control system478. It should be noted that the control system 478 comprises a maincontroller 480 that is schematically shown in FIG. 21 and furthercomprises a plurality of sensors and valves positioned throughout thepotable water fluid circuit 428. It should further be reiterated thatthe potable water fluid circuit 428 of the water producing and deliverydevice 420 is one embodiment of the present invention and variousderivatives and variations can be employed without departing from theinventive combination of elements of the system.

The discussion of the potable water fluid circuit 428 will now beginwith reference to the lower portion of FIG. 19 where the collection driptray 452 has an upper surface 482 that defines an open chamber regionadapted to have water collected therein. This chamber region convergesto a drainage point 484 that is in communication with the collectiondrip tray line 486 which passes the condensation water droplets 450 to afirst reservoir tank 490. The first reservoir tank 490 is essentially asump providing water to the pump 492 that passes the fluid through afilter assembly 474. Between the fluid circuit of the pump 492 and thefilter assembly 474 is a check valve 496 that is adapted to only allowthe water to flow in the direction indicated by arrow 498. This checkvalve 496 prevents back flow of water from the filter assembly 474 whichis particularly useful in one orientation the filter assembly 474 ispositioned vertically above the pump 492 whereby the hydrostaticpressure of the fluid within the potable water fluid circuit 428 mayhave a tendency to drain backwards.

After the water passes through the check valve 496, it enters the filterassembly 474 whereby in one form, the filter assembly 474 comprises apurification filter assembly 500 and an ultraviolet filter 502positioned in the first reservoir tank 490. The purification filterassembly 500 in one form is comprised of a plurality of granular filtersthat are connected in series and adapted to have water passtherethrough. In one form, the first filter in the water stream is asediment filter 504 that is adapted to remove particulate matter fromthe condensed water. Although the condensed water derived from thecooling element 430 is initially relatively pure, various dust particlesin the like can accumulate therein and such material is desirablyextracted and removed from the water before consumption. One form of thepurification of the water is to supply and impregnated by the filterwithin the filter assembly 474.

Following the sediment filter 504, the water then passes to a zeolitefilter 506. The zeolite filter 506 contains a compound with silver.Silver is found to be a very strong antibacterial agent. Normally, aprecarbon silver filter is used in a reverse osmosis application and isgenerally not suitable for a circulatory type system such as the potablewater fluid circuit 428 whereby in such a system the silver contentwould increase to toxic levels. However, a zeolite filter isparticularly advantageous because the silver compound does not leave thefilter 506 in any appreciable quantities and remains therein forpurposes of killing bacteria passing therethrough.

The fluid then exits the zeolite filter 506 and passes to a carbon blockfilter 508. The carbon block filter is adapted to improve taste of thewater and provide other filtering functions. Following the carbon blockfilter 508 is an ultrafilter/UF filter 510. The UF filter is adapted toremove very fine particulate matter such as that over 0.1 to 0.4 micronsand in one form substantially all particles over 0.1 microns. This isparticularly conducive for getting the full effect of a UV filter 512which is now described below.

The UV filter 502 is adapted to emit ultraviolet light that isparticularly conducive for killing bacteria. As mentioned immediatelyabove, the UF filter 510 is well-suited for removing small particulatematter. The UF filter in one form has 0.1-0.4 micron pore size and isadapted to potentially remove any particulate matter that is larger than0.1 microns. It should be noted that a UF filter does not remove ionswhich are dissolved within water. However, condensed water from airgenerally has very few ions so a UF membrane filter is particularlyconducive for this application. In the alternative, a potassiumperoxymonosulfate product which is manufactured by DuPont can beemployed, containing colloidal amorphous silica L-Gel 115 which is aformulation of aqueous solution jelled with 15% EH-5 silica gel. Presentanalysis indicates that this form of the filter would work as well inthis application.

It has been found that small particulate matter allows for theproduction of shadows which provides areas within the water that are notsubjected to the ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation. Therefore,bacteria hiding in the shadow areas behind small particulate particlesare not destroyed. The UV filter 502 and the UF filter 510 workcooperatively to destroy bacteria and remove very fine particulatematter. It has been found that many UV lights that are off-the-shelf areoutside of the electromagnetic wavelength spectrum as proscribed in theproduct specification. Through much testing and laborious process ofelimination, it has been found by the applicant being outside thedesirable killing range for bacteria and removing chlorine whereby theeffectiveness of such lights is appreciably less than expected.Therefore, having a UV light that preferably has a wavelength in therange of approximately 254 nanometers in length plus or minus 3% in apreferred range, 5% in a broader range and plus or minus 10% in thebroadest range allows for the destruction of bacteria contained thereinthe potable water fluid circuit 428. Or other terms, the C-bandultraviolet light can be between 240 and 270 nm in wavelength for apreferred approximate range and between 200 and 280 nm in a broaderrange. A NSF/ANSI Standard 255 light capable of killing any water bornbacteria, viruses and removing chlorine meeting all standards forpotable water can be employed.

After the water exits the UV filter 502 as shown in FIG. 19, the waterpasses through the line 516 to the second reservoir tank 518. As shownin FIG. 18, the second reservoir tank 518 has a first sensor 519contained therein. In one form, the first sensor is a trifloat system521 that is described herein.

The fluid is then directed through either a first output line 540 or asecond output line 542 which are in communication with a hot water tank544 and a cold water tank 546 respectively. The tanks 544 and 546 withthe water dispensing area 422 as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. The hot andcold water faucets 550 and 552 are adapted to dispense hot and coldwater from tanks 544 and 546 respectively. The lower portion of thetanks 544 and 546 have control valves 554 and 556 such as solenoidvalves that operate with the control system as described further herein.

Now referring back to the second reservoir tank 518 in FIG. 19, a secondreservoir overflow line 560 is to drain to the lower tray whereby thetank is overfilled with water for one reason or another (perhaps in afloat valve malfunction) the water will pass through the main overflowline 562 and be directed towards the overflow tank 564. The overflowtank 564 comprises an overflow float sensor 568 that is adapted tocooperate with the control system 578 shown in FIG. 21 whereby theoverflow float sensor 568 will override all sensors and shut off theheat pump assembly 542. As shown in FIG. 19 in one form the compressor546 ceases operation and in another form turns off the machine 520entirely. With regard to FIG. 19, the overflow sensor indicated at 568in one form can be positioned under the various components in acollection-like drip tray having a downward slope area to a sensor whereany leak within the system is detected and can shut off the machine andprovide an indication for mechanical assistance. The float valve 568 isadapted to operate in the event that the trifloat system 519 as shown inFIGS. 23-26 malfunctions in some form.

The potable water fluid circuit 528 further comprises an auxiliary waterinput system 570 which comprises an input line 572 that is connected toa water supply of some sort such as a tap water supply. The line passesthrough the bulkhead fitting 574, the pressure switch 576 and thencontinuing through line 572 to the solenoid valve 578 controls the watertherethrough and is a part of the control system described furtherbelow. A pressure switch 576 is then provided which operates in a mannerto provide a protection device that discontinues the communication ofthe fluid to the potable water fluid circuit 528 as shown in FIG. 19when large variances in pressure are detected and if there is no tapwater pressure the solenoid valve will not operate. The water then flowsthrough the check valve 580 which operates in a similar manner as thepreviously described check valve 496. The auxiliary water input system570 is advantageous for automatically providing water when needed intimes of low humidity or high use of the machine where water isextracted through the water dispensing area 422 as shown in FIG. 17. Thecontrols of the solenoid valve are integrated with the various floatsensors within the system that are described further herein.

There will now be a detailed description of the control system 478. Asshown in FIG. 21, there is a schematic circuit that has a maincontroller 480 comprising a circuit board 482. In general, the circuitboard 482 receives voltage signals from a plurality of sensorsthroughout the system and is adapted to exercise logic to controlvarious solenoids and other operations of the water producing anddelivery device 420 to ensure proper operation and automation of thedevice. The description of the control system 478 will begin with theinput power and analyze the various states of the system and theinteroperability of the sensors and various components.

Power is supplied to the system from the power input source 590. In oneform, and probably the most prevalent, the power input source is astandard 110-volt 60-hertz standard power plug or the Europeanequivalent. Alternatively, a 12 volt input line which is common in manyportable like devices such as automobiles and boats could be employedwithout the use of AC to DC transformers as described below and furtherhaving proper compressors and fans that function off of such directcurrent. The power input passes through a main switch 592. It should benoted that to complete the current, one lead 593 from the power inputsource 590 can be provided with various switches and the other lead 594is provided to complete the circuit. The electrical circuit furtherpasses through a fuse 596 that is common in the industry and adapted tobreak the circuit in the event of a massive amperage overload such as ashort circuit. The lines 598 and 600 are in communication with lines 593and 594 respectively to provide power to the main controller 480. Theelectric power from line 193 further passes and is bifurcated throughswitches 602 and 604 which are the cold water switch and hot waterswitch respectively. When the switch 602 is closed, the electricitypasses through line 606 through the thermostat 608 to complete a circuitwith the cold water compressor 610. As shown in FIG. 18, the cold watercompressor 610 has a second heat pump circuit that is adapted to coolthe water within the cold water tank 546. The heat pump for the coldwater tank operates in a similar manner as the heat pump assembly 442described above where a condenser 611 is provided in the rear portion ofthe housing 424 as shown in FIG. 18. The evaporator is in thermalcommunication with the cold water tank 546. Electric current furtherpasses through switch 604 past the bi-metal switch 612 to the heatingelement 614 which is adapted to heat the water contained in the hotwater tank 544. Power from the lines 593 and 594 downstream from themain switch 592 further is an electrical communication with anultraviolet ballast 618 which supplies power to the ultraviolet light502 described above. It should be noted that whenever the master switch492 is in the closed position during the machine on, the ultravioletlight is always on operating and killing bacteria.

The thermostat 608 is adapted to control the cold water compressor 610to ensure that the water within the cold water tank 546, as shown inFIG. 19, is kept at a proper cool temperature. In a similar fashion, thebi-metal switch 612 which, in the broader scope, is any thermal relatedswitch, detects the temperature of the water contained in the hot watertank 544 as shown in FIG. 19 and is adapted to close the circuit supplyand electricity to the heating element 614 which is shown in FIG. 21 andin thermal communication with the hot water tank 544 as shown in FIG.19.

Now referring to the upper portion in FIG. 21, the main controller is inelectrical communication with a display controller 622 that is adaptedto display the status and state of the machine through a display 624 asshown in FIG. 17. Referring back to FIG. 21, the main controller is inelectrical communication with a variety of sensors, where as shown inthe upper portion, the input sensors 568 for the overflow float sensor,the second float sensor in the first reservoir tank, the thermal sensor455 and/or 456 are adapted to send electric signals to the maincontroller 480. The main controller 480 thereby has internal logic tocontrol the cold water solenoid valve 556, the hot water solenoid valve554, the water input solenoid valve 578, and the compressor 446, as wellas the pump 492. Most of these components have been described above indetail and there will now be a description of various states of thewater producing and delivery device 420.

Referring now to FIGS. 18, 19 and 21, the second float sensor 491 isadapted to detect the fluid level within the first reservoir tank 490.In a batch-operation-like manner, when the float valve (or other valveproper to detect the height of the water collected) reaches a certainheight, the pump 492 is activated and in a manner as described above,the fluid passes through the filter assembly 474 (see FIG. 19) andpasses to the first reservoir tank 518. Therefore, this is a continuousprocess that operates in a batch process as the first reservoir tank 518fills. Now to provide fluid in the first reservoir tank 490, the heatpump assembly 442, as shown in FIG. 19, must be operating whereby thecooling element 430 is collecting condensate in the drip tray 482. Onemethod of controlling the production of water is to control theoperation of the compressor 446 which controls the transportation ofrefrigerant fluid through the heat pump assembly 442. Therefore, thefirst sensor 519 detects the state of the three floats as shown in FIGS.23-26. The trifloat system 521 as shown in FIG. 23 is one form ofinterfacing with the control system 478 described below. In general, asshown in FIG. 23, each float filter 700, 702 and 704 is adapted todisplace vertically depending upon the water level 706. In general, thefirst float sensor 700 turns on the auxiliary water input system 570(see FIG. 19). The second float sensor 702 turns off the auxiliary waterinput system 570 and the third float sensor 604 turns off the open loopambient air system 426 whereby shutting down the production of water byway of psychrometric principles.

As shown in FIG. 23, the water level within the first reservoir tank 494where the water level 706 is below the first float sensor 700. The firstfloat sensor 700 is adapted to send a signal to the main controller 480whereby the main controller 480 will open the solenoid valve 578 wherebyintroducing water from the auxiliary water input system 570. Nowreferring to FIG. 24, the first float sensor 700 is in an elevatedposition and the water level 706 is positioned in between the first andsecond float sensors 700 and 702. In one form, the water that ispresumably tap water that enters from the bulkhead fitting 574 willcontinue to enter into the potable water fluid circuit 428 until theposition as shown in FIG. 25 whereby the water level 706 is above thesecond float sensor 702 whereby the buoyant force raises said filter andthe main controller 480 turns off the solenoid 578 of the auxiliarywater input system 570 as shown in FIG. 19. Now referring to FIG. 26,the water level 706 is at a very high level above the third float sensor704. In this state, the open loop ambient air system 426 is shut downwhereby the compressor 444 is turned off and the flow of refrigerantthrough the heat pump assembly 442 ceases whereby the cooling element430 will cease to be at a cooler temperature and drawing moisture fromthe atmosphere. Alternately, any form of cooling element 430 that isprovided could be shut off directly by the main controller 480 wherebyceasing the production of water by way of psychrometric principles. Thethird float valve 704 can further shut down the air biasing system whichin one form is an electric fan controlled by the electric motor 470 asshown in FIG. 19.

The trifloat system 519 of course can be varied depending on theprogramming. For example, in a simpler form one of the upper floats isonly utilized or an embodiment such as FIG. 5 press key cap F isutilized where the system continues to run until the unit is full.

A second method of controlling the production of water is doneindirectly for the purpose of water control but primarily executed toprevent buildup of frost and freezing on the cooling element 430. Thethermal sensors 455 and/or 456 are adapted to detect a below-freezingtemperature, or a temperature very close to freezing. The thermalsensors which in one form are thermisters send the signal to the maincontroller as shown in FIG. 21 and the main controller exercises logicto control the electronic control rheostat 530 which provides a variablerotational speed to the air biasing mechanism 490. As mentioned above,the preferred method of an air biasing mechanism is a rotary fan. Theelectronically controlled rheostat 530 can for example adjust theamperage or voltage that is supplied to the air biasing mechanism/fan490, whereby the rotational velocity dictates the volumetric throughputthrough the open loop ambient air system 426 as shown in FIG. 19.Therefore, a greater throughput of ambient air which is at a highertemperature than the cooling element 430 provides forced convectionwhich facilitates the heat transfer from the ambient air indicated at440 to the cooling element 430 (and further dumps heat indicated at40C). This is advantageous because the greater throughput of air furtherwill provide greater condensation droplets 450. Therefore, this controlsystem affects the amount of water entering the potable water fluidcircuit 428 and further prevents ice buildup upon the cooling element430.

The control circuit/main controller 480 further provides for havinginput lines 632 and 634 that indicate whether the circuits for the coldwater compressor 610 and hot water heater 614 are open and hence turnedoff. In this event, either the cold water solenoid valve 556 or hotwater solenoid valve 554 as shown in FIG. 21 as well as in FIG. 19, willopen and hence the water contained in the tanks 544 or 546 will drainback to the first reservoir tank 490. Further, the circulation can occuron a timed bases where for example after three hours the cold tank willcirculate its contents to kill any bacteria that may have grown in thecold tank. The reason for this circulation of the fluid is to ensurethat no bacterial growth occurs in the tanks 544 or 546. In other words,the hot water in tank 544 is sufficiently warm enough to not permit anyappreciable amount of bacterial growth therein. Further, the cold waterin the tank 546 is sufficiently refrigerated to militate any bacterialgrowth. However, if either these systems are shut off by switches 602 or604, out of an abundance of caution, the water contained in either tank544 or 546, depending on whether switch 602 or 604 is thrown, iscirculated through the potable water fluid circuit 428.

FIG. 20A discloses another embodiment of the closed-loop system wherethe water producing coil is positioned above and can gravity feed to themain tank to the tank 528 whereby assisting at least having thehydrostatic pressure begin at a higher elevation within the system. Thewater dispensing portion (not shown) is communication with the tanks 544and 546. However, the schematic drawing and the components can be morevertically compact so the dispensing nozzles such as that as shown inFIG. 17 are delivered by way of hydrostatic pressure.

It should further be noted that a transformer 640 is provided to create24 volt and 12 volt direct current for functioning of the variousequipment components and sensors.

It should further be noted that the first or second reservoir tankscould be replaced with an expandable and collapsible bladder. Wherepreferably, the second reservoir tank would be of a bladder design thatis sealed and can expand and contract depending upon the amount ofpotable water contained therein. This could be particularly advantageouswhere the potable water could last for a period of months. In general,an expandable bladder that is not exposed to the atmosphere that onlycontains clean, substantially bacteria free water therein, has thepotential for a shelf stable water supply.

At the time of filing, present experimentation and analysis hasindicated that the shape of the coil does not have a large impact as tothe effectiveness of condensing water on the outer surface thereof.Mainly, the common coil must be sized for proper surface area and volumeto the compressor and the expand for proper functionality within therefrigeration cycle. One method of a coil is shown in FIGS. 27-28 a.

Now referring to FIG. 27, there is shown one form of a heat exchangerthat functions as the cooling element 430. In general, it is desirableto cool the incoming air past condensation temperature to collect waterdroplets therefrom. For example, referring now to FIG. 29, thepsychrometric chart schematically indicates the state of an incomingvolume of air whereby the location indicated at 720 indicates a certainrelative humidity indicated at 722 and a certain absolute humidity 724of this volume of air. Further, this volume of air is at a certaintemperature which is presumably room temperature indicated at 726.Therefore, it is desirable to first cool this incoming volume of air tothe location indicated at 728 whereby water has not yet fallen out ofthe air and the absolute humidity has remained substantially constant;however the relative humidity is now at 100% and water droplets are nowto be drawn from the air as it cools further. It should be noted thatalthough the second temperature 729 correlating to the 100% relativehumidity indicated at location 728 in the chart shows a lowertemperature that is indicated at 726, no useful amount of water has beenproduced and extracted from the air.

Now referring to FIG. 27, there is shown the heat exchanger 750 which inone form can be the cooling element 430 as described above. In general,the heat exchanger 750 has a coil system 752 and a housing assembly 754.As shown in FIG. 27 a, the housing assembly 754 comprises an outer shell756 and an inner shell 758. The outer shell 756 has an interior surface760 that cooperates with the outer surface 762 of the inner shell 758 toform an internal cylindrical like chamber 764. The coil 752 isinterposed cylindrically between the surfaces 760 and 762 whereby thecylindrical like chamber 764 provides an elongate cylindrical toroidalshaped opening that does not have as large of a volume of air exposed tothe coil 752. The coil 752 can operate like a normal evaporator coilwhere a first end 770 is adapted to have a refrigerant expanded andpassed therein. The air flow as indicated by arrow 772 would enter inthe “warmer” end of the coil 752 whereby beginning to cool the air froma temperature indicated at 726 and FIG. 29 to a lower temperature to theleft-hand portion of the psychrometric chart. In other words, theforward end 776 of the heat exchanger 750 may have a temperature of thecoil that is schematically indicated at location 776 a in FIG. 29. Thecolder end indicated at 778 in FIG. 27, may have a lower temperatureindicated at 778 a in FIG. 29. As described above, this countercurrentflow will allow for a greater temperature differential between the airand the coil throughout the course of the path of travel of the incomingambient air through the heat exchanger 750.

In general, based on standard psychrometric principles ofdehumidification a long cylindrical evaporator coil 752 is a method tomaximize water condensation. The coil is always coolest at the endclosest the expander following the condenser. By blowing the air fromthe compressor (warm end) along an increasingly cooler coil it willcreate more condensation than a standard coil arrangement. Anycondensation at the start of the coil will result in a lower dew pointas the remaining air now contains less moisture, so with the coilincreasingly cooler towards the condenser end as the air travels alongit will drop more moisture, as the cooler coil will produce a lower dewpoint. A cylindrical coil is ideally suited as it can be housed by apiece of food grade plastic pipe and if both connections are engineeredto exit on one side of the coil then the plastic pipe can be slid offfor easy cleaning of the pipe and coil. The condenser coil can be housedin a similar pipe that can be acoustically insulated to reduce noisefrom the machine before it is directed to the exit vent.

FIGS. 28 and 28 a shows another embodiment of the heat exchanger 750 awhereby in some models it may be preferable to put the evaporator coil780 inside the condenser coil 752 for a more space efficientarrangement. Plastic pipes 782 and 784 can still be inserted over thecoils from one end to be easily removed for cleaning.

FIG. 22 shows a second embodiment whereby the system 420 has first andsecond upper and lower portions where the components are ranged in amanner as this embodiment facilitates shipping whereby the elongatedhousing 424 as shown in FIG. 16 is particularly vulnerable to contortionby loads placed thereon during shipping, whereby two discrete piecesthat are adapted to be attached to one another whereby variousconnectors are employed to connect the various fluid circuits from thelower portion 791 to the upper portion 790. The upper surface 794 can befitted with an interface connection portion 796 that is adapted topositionally correlate to a receiving section (not shown) of the upperportion 790 shown in FIG. 22 to exchange.

Another bacteria killing apparatus that can replace or work inconjunction with the UF filter 502 is a high-power ultrasound, used forcell disruption, particle size reduction, welding and vaporization thatbeen shown to be 99.99 percent effective in killing bacterial sporesafter only 30 seconds of non-contact exposure in experiments conductedby researchers at Penn State and Altran Labs, Boalsburg, Pa.

Specially equipped source of inaudible, high frequency (70 to 200 kHz)sound waves and hit for 30 seconds where the water can pass through acircuitous route exposed to the ultra sound. The Penn State and UlranLabs' experiments mark the first time that Non-Contact Ultrasound (NCU)has been shown to inactivate bacterial spores. The NCU technology couldpotentially sterilize the air duct systems as well.

The types of various fans to be utilized for the various air biasingmembers of the centrifugal type devices such as scroll fans, squirrelcage fans and any other type of device to bias air. A squirrel cage fancan be very desirable due to its low decibel rating. The electro-kineticair transporter is also a viable air biasing mechanism and has theadvantage of being relatively quite.

Present analysis indicates that the water produced by the waterproducing device 20 is particularly useful for producing alcoholicbeverages such as beer. It has been found that water content is higherin oxygen which presumably is conducive for the yeast growth in variousprocesses in producing alcohol and more particularly beer. Further otherone type of consumable beverages such as coffee, soft drinks, juicedrinks etc. have been found to be very desirable with the water which iscondensed from the air as produced by the device 20.

The water producing device to be utilized with temporary and permanentinexpensive housing such as Enviro Homes™ that are domelike shape toprovide a complete unit of a providing shelter to individuals as well aswater.

The water producing and water purification portions can be at separatelocations from each other as well as the water dispensing region. Forexample, the water dispensing region can be at a remote locations suchas on a fridge or the like in a different area in the water producingand water purification portions. This allows for a convenientpositioning of components were the water producing region is locatednear air that is more humid or closer proximity to areas requiring airconditioning or heating.

While the present invention is illustrated by description of severalembodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described indetail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in anyway limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additionaladvantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claimswill readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in itsbroader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details,representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shownand described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such detailswithout departing from the spirit or scope of applicants' generalconcept.

1. An apparatus to condense water from the air, the apparatuscomprising: a. a refrigeration cycle comprising: i. a evaporator coilmember, ii. an expander positioned in a fluid circuit between acondenser coil and the evaporator coil, iii. a compressor interposed inthe fluid circuit between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil, b.a collection tank provided for collecting condensed water condensingupon on the evaporator coil, c. a hot tank in fluid communication withthe collection tank, a circulation line providing communication from thehot tank to the main tank, d. a cold tank in fluid communication withthe collection tank, a circulation line providing communication from thehot tank to the main tank.
 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherethe circulation line from the hot tank passes through a filter.
 3. Theapparatus as recited in claim 2 where the circulation line from the coldtank passes through a filter.
 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1were an ozone generator producing ozone gas that is in communicationwith the main tank and a first filter in communication with the maintank that is operatively configured to have ozone pass therethrough andis in communication with the ambient air, a fluid dispensing portionadapted to provide fluid through a dispenser and a second filterpositioned between the main tank and the dispensing nozzle for removalof ozone gas.
 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 whereas ozoneproduced by the ozone generator that entered the main tank remains inthe main tank or passes through an ozone removing filter while exitingthe main tank so the ozone does not to exit to the surroundingenvironment from the main tank.
 6. A water producing apparatus having:a. a refrigeration cycle comprising an evaporator coil member, anexpander positioned in a refrigerant fluid circuit between a condensercoil and the evaporator coil, a compressor interposed in the fluidcircuit between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil, b. acollection tank provided for collecting condensed water condensing uponon the evaporator coil, c. a first tank in fluid communication with thecollection tank, a circulation line providing communication from the hottank to the main tank, d. a control system configured to circulate thewater in the first tank back to the collection tank after a prescribedamount of time
 7. The water producing apparatus water producingapparatus as recited in claim 6 further comprising: a. a first fluidcircuit with an operating fluid traveling therethrough, the first fluidcircuit passing through a water condensation member that is positionedin an airstream where ambient air passes thereby and water is adapted tocondense on the water condensation member, b. a second fluid circuithaving a heat pump cycle having a condenser, evaporator, expander and acompressor where the evaporator coil is in thermal communication with aportion of the first fluid circuit to draw heat therefrom, c. acompressor operates to maintain the temperature in the first fluidcircuit sufficiently below the dewpoint of the ambient air and a controlsystem monitors the temperature of the air stream to adjust the rate ofthe flow of air base upon the temperature of the air stream.
 8. Thewater producing apparatus as recited in claim 7 where the sensor isdownstream of the water condensation member in the air flow.
 9. Thewater producing apparatus as recited in claim 8 where surface area ofthe water condensation member is greater than the surface area of theevaporator whereby a control system maintains the exit temperature in ata dry temperature below the dew point of ambient air and the air biasingmember is adapted to maintain an optimum downstream temperature toproduce a greater amount of water condensate to form than if to just theevaporator coil was utilized to condense water.
 10. The water producingapparatus as recited in claim 7 where the thermal communication betweenthe evaporator and the first fluid circuit is by way of a plate heatexchanger.
 11. A system for producing water from air having evaporatedwater therein by forming condensation droplets, the system comprising:a. a water condensation member adapted to be positioned in an air streamhaving the evaporated water and further have the condensation dropletsformed thereon, b. a collection tray adapted to collect condensationdroplets from the water condensation member, c. a first collection tankin communication with the collection tray, d. a fluid line incommunication with the first collection tank that is operativelyconfigured to bias the water through a filter assembly, e. a secondcollection tank in fluid communication with the first collection tankand further is provided with a circulation line for distributing thefilter through the filter assembly.
 12. The system for producing wateras recited in claim 11 further comprising: a. a refrigeration circuithaving an evaporator coil in thermal communication with a heatexchanger, the heat exchanger having an inlet port and an outlet portadapted to allow water to pass therethrough downstream from the filterassembly, b. a valve system adapted to direct refrigerant to either theheat exchanger or to the water condensation member, c. whereby the heatexchanger outlet port is in communication with a dispenser nozzle fordistributing cold water.
 13. The system for producing water as recitedin claim 12 where the valve system to direct refrigerant to the watercondensation member directly passes refrigerant through the watercondensation member.
 14. The system for producing water as recited inclaim 12 where the valve system to direct refrigerant to the watercondensation member directs refrigerant to be in thermal communicationwith the water condensation member for reducing the temperature of thewater condensation member.
 15. The system for producing water as recitedin claim 12 where the first collection tank passes water to thedispenser nozzle by way of hydrostatic pressure.
 16. The system forproducing water as recited in claim 15 where the water passes throughthe filter assembly by way of gravity.
 17. The system for producingwater as recited in claim 15 where the filter assembly includes an ozonegenerator that is in communication with the first tank.
 18. The systemfor producing water as recited in claim 11 where the water downstream ofthe first collection tank is pumped through the filter assembly.
 19. Thesystem for producing water as recited in claim 11 where the secondcollection tank is a hot tank and when a heater element is turned offthe water contained therein is circulated through the filter assembly.20. The system for producing water as recited in claim 11 where thesecond collection tank is a hot tank and when a heater element is turnedoff the water contained therein is circulated through the filterassembly which is an ozone system in communication with the firstcollection tank providing ozone gas therein.